Under Shifting Glass

Gr 6–8—Jess found the mysterious glass flask on the very same day her conjoined twin brothers were born. It was hidden behind a drawer in a desk that had belonged to her beloved late Aunt Edie. The flask is covered in whorls that remind her of a tiny rib cage. There is something inside it that changes colors and sometimes escapes-a thing "that flew and breathed and didn't obey the laws of science." It simultaneously terrifies and attracts Jess. She constantly watches the colors change in the flask, as she believes they reflect her brothers' chances of survival. If they make it through the initial period, there will be a risky surgery to separate them. To further complicate matters, she believes her best friend, Zoe, has abandoned her. The story contains elements of fantasy, spirituality, and superstition. It covers a very short period of time, so the main characters do not grow or substantially change, but they are fully fleshed out and readers will identify with them. The plot is unusual, but the messages of fear, hope, and love are universal.—Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC